
Introduction
Chests play a crucial role in Clash Royale, serving as the primary means of acquiring cards, which are essential for upgrading units. Since upgrading cards is necessary to improve your decks and advance in the game, chests become central to player progression. A player’s card collection and King Tower experience level depend on how many resources they accumulate, with chests being the main source for obtaining both cards and valuable resources like gold and gems.
As players progress through the game, chests offer a wide variety of rewards that can significantly impact their performance in battles. The rewards vary depending on the type of chest, and managing these chests effectively is key to maintaining a strong deck and advancing in arenas. This Clash Royale Chest Guide will help players understand the different types of chests, how to maximize their unlocks, and the best strategies for utilizing the rewards they offer for optimal progression in the game.
Chests can hold varying amounts of cards, with the number depending on the chest’s rarity. Rare and higher-tier chests often contain a larger number of cards, including a higher chance for Epic and Legendary cards, making them essential for powerful deck-building. Along with unit cards, chests also provide essential resources like gold, which is used to upgrade cards and buy items in the shop, and gems, which can speed up chest unlocking times or be used for other in-game purchases.
Gems are a valuable resource, and collecting them through chests is a major factor in progressing efficiently. Thus, chests are integral to advancing in Clash Royale, offering critical items for both card upgrades and overall gameplay development. Understanding how to strategically unlock and utilize chests will allow players to optimize their progression, improve their decks faster, and become more competitive in battles.
Chest Types and Acquisition
In Clash Royale, there are various types of chests, each with different methods of acquisition and rewards. The Crown Chest can be unlocked once per day by earning 10 crowns, which are awarded by destroying an opponent’s towers. The loot from the Crown Chest improves with your arena rank and always contains 2-4 gems. Victory Chests are earned after winning matches and fit into the four slots at the bottom of the screen. These include silver, gold, and magical chests, with the loot being tied to your arena rank at the time of the win. Victory chests drop in a predetermined cycle.
Free Chests (also known as Wooden Chests) unlock every four hours, with up to two chests stacking at a time. The timer for these chests only runs when there is an empty chest slot. Treasure Chests, or Shop Chests, can be bought in the shop for gems. Additionally, there are Other Chests, including the Giant Chest, Magical Chest, Super Magical Chest, Epic Chest, Legendary Chest, Mega Lightning Chest, and Royal Wild Chest.
These can be obtained either by winning battles or purchasing from the shop. Chests can be earned through various methods such as winning battles in party modes and arena-specific matches, participating in special events, tournaments, and challenges, earning crowns by taking down opponents’ towers, purchasing chests with gems (e.g., the Fortune chest for 750 gems or the Legendary King’s Chest for 2500 gems), and reaching specific milestones in the Trophy Road.
Chest Contents
In Clash Royale, chests generally contain cards, gold, and sometimes gems, with the number of cards depending on the chest’s rarity. Chests may also contain cards from lower arenas than the one in which they were obtained. Here’s a breakdown of the contents for specific chests:
The Free Chest (Wooden Chest) is earned every 4 hours and contains gold along with a few cards. The Silver Chest contains gold and a few cards, including a guaranteed few Common Cards and a Rare Card if the player is in Builder’s Workshop or above. The Golden Chest contains more gold and cards than the Silver Chest, with guaranteed 2 or more Rare Cards depending on the player’s Arena, along with some Common Cards. The Crown Chest contains gold, cards, and gems, always including 2-4 Gems. The Magical Chest offers gold, cards, and a chance for epic cards, guaranteeing 2 or more Epic Cards based on the player’s Arena, along with some Rare and Common Cards.
The Giant Chest contains gold and many cards, guaranteeing a large number of Rare and Common Cards. The Super Magical Chest (now replaced by the Mega Lightning Chest) contains a lot of gold and cards, with higher chances for rare and epic cards, and guarantees a Legendary Card if the player is in Spooky Town or above, alongside Epic and Rare Cards.
The Epic Chest contains only Epic cards, guaranteeing Epic Cards without any other rarity. The Legendary Chest contains one Legendary card from any arena, allowing players to obtain cards from higher Arenas, and only contains Legendary Cards. Lastly, the Royal Wild Chest does not contain individual cards; instead, all the cards inside are Wild Cards. If the player owns a Champion Card, the Royal Wild Chest is guaranteed to drop one.
Chest Cycles
In Clash Royale, there are two primary chest cycle systems that govern how chests are awarded: the 240 Chest Cycle and the 500 Chest Cycle. Both of these systems play a significant role in the progression of the game, ensuring that players consistently receive rewards as they advance. Understanding these chest cycles can help players strategically plan their chest unlocking and make the most of the resources available.
The 240 Chest Cycle begins at chest 0 and runs through to chest 239, after which the cycle resets and starts again from chest 0. Unlike the random nature of some chest rewards, this cycle is predetermined and guarantees specific chests. The breakdown includes 180 Silver Chests, 52 Gold Chests, 4 Magical Chests, and 4 Giant Chests. Once chest 239 is reached, the cycle begins again from the start.
The cycle progresses only when there is at least one empty chest slot, meaning that players need to be mindful of their chest slots to keep the cycle moving efficiently. The chest cycle also undergoes changes as players reach higher King Levels. For example, at King Level 42-70, some Silver Chests are completely removed from the cycle, and others are replaced with different types of chests, shortening the cycle. This modification in the cycle ensures that higher-level players are more likely to receive better chests suited to their progression.
The 500 Chest Cycle operates separately from the 240 Chest Cycle and focuses specifically on special chests such as Epic, Legendary, and Super Magical chests. These special chests appear at random points within the cycle but are still tied to certain rules. For example, at chest 400 in the cycle, players are guaranteed to receive a Super Magical Chest. Similarly, if a player receives a Legendary Chest before an Epic Chest, the next chest will be guaranteed to be an Epic Chest.
This system adds an element of excitement and anticipation, as players can look forward to receiving rare and powerful chests at specific points in the cycle. Tracking the progress of these cycles can also be done through various tools and websites that allow players to monitor when special chests are likely to appear, helping them plan their unlocking strategies.
Both chest cycles are integral to understanding the flow of rewards in Clash Royale. By knowing the structure of these cycles, players can better manage their chest slots, ensure they are consistently earning valuable rewards, and make strategic decisions about when to unlock certain chests for maximum benefit.
Chest Strategy and Tips
In Clash Royale, managing your chests efficiently is key to progressing quickly. One strategy is to keep unlocking chests continuously to avoid wasting any time and keep the chest cycle progressing. Timing chest openings is also important—starting longer unlocks (8-12 hours) before sleeping or going to work/school can help maximize rewards. Higher-tier chests, such as the Magical Chest and Super Magical Chest, offer better drop rates for rare and epic cards, making them valuable for advancing your collection.
To maximize gold, use gems for gold rather than using them to skip chest timers, especially if you’re not spending a lot of real money on gems. Chest keys can be used to speed up the unlocking process for rarer chests like Magical and Giant Chests, but you are limited to a maximum of 10 keys unless you purchase more in the shop. For smoother chest management, consider purchasing Pass Royale, which allows you to queue chests, making it easier to manage multiple unlocks. If you have the Pass Royale, you can queue chests, meaning that as soon as one chest finishes unlocking, the next one begins automatically.
It’s important to note that chests won in battles need to be unlocked either by waiting a certain amount of time or by using a Chest Key. Additionally, chest rewards are determined the moment the chest is opened, so you can strategically save chests to unlock at a higher Arena level to get better rewards. The rarer the card, the less likely a chest will drop an extra card of that rarity.
If you’re low on keys, check Royale.api to see when you’ll receive your next 12 or 24-hour chest. While full chest slots won’t stop you from battling, you won’t win any chests until a slot is cleared. Winning battles with full chest slots does not affect chest drop rates, but no chests will be awarded until space is available.
Chest Tier List/Ranking
In Clash Royale, chests play a crucial role in helping players progress, and some chests stand out due to their contents, rarity, usefulness, and exclusivity. Here’s a tier list based on factors like the quality of contents, chances for rare or legendary cards, and usefulness for progression.
S-Tier chests offer the best rewards and are highly coveted. The Legendary King’s Chest guarantees both a Champion and a Legendary card, as well as a legendary wild card, with draft choices between two cards of the same rarity. Available from Arenas 11-23, it’s highly valuable for players seeking powerful cards. The Royal Wild Chest contains only wild cards and guarantees a Champion at level 14, making it highly valuable for those focusing on Champion cards.
The Grand Challenge Chest (12 wins) is considered one of the most rewarding, with large amounts of gold, cards, and a high chance of receiving Legendary cards. The Lightning Super Magical Chest offers significant progression for the account with the added benefit of selecting a Champion or Legendary card, making it another top-tier chest.
In the A-Tier, the Legendary Chest is a solid choice as it consistently provides one Legendary card, while the Super Magical Chest is filled with a wealth of Epic and Rare cards, with a good chance of pulling a Legendary. The Tournament Chest was once one of the best ways to max out your account, though it’s now less relevant. The Mega Lightning Chest guarantees a Legendary card after a certain number of chests and provides tons of cards and a decent amount of gold, making it a strong option for progression.
The B-Tier includes chests that are decent but not extraordinary. The Magical Chest is acceptable, offering a mix of cards but not providing an overwhelming amount of Legendary drops. The Fortune Chest offers a chance to preview the card inside and has a 1 in 10 chance of containing a Legendary card. The Giant Chest is better than Silver and Gold Chests, containing more cards, but still not a top-tier choice.
C-Tier chests offer limited value but can still be useful. The Epic Chest contains 20 Epic cards, making it useful for players who want to bulk up their Epic card collection. The Clan Chest used to offer a good mix of Epic and Rare cards but is now less impactful. The Lightning Chest is somewhat underwhelming, with only limited usefulness despite the lightning strikes.
The Crown Chest is equivalent to a Gold Chest and provides minimal rewards, especially when compared to higher-tier chests. The Classic Challenge Chest rewards players with a chest similar to the Crown Chest after beating 12 players, which is less valuable. Gold Crates are low in quality, offering gold but not much else. Clan War Chests vary based on your performance in wars but typically offer lower rewards.
At the bottom of the list, D-Tier chests are the least desirable. The Silver Chest is widely considered the worst, with minimal rewards. The Wooden Chest offers just one rare card, and while it may occasionally provide a Legendary, it’s generally underwhelming. The Gold Chest is better than Silver but still underperforms compared to higher-tier chests.
Finally, the SS-Tier, the ultimate tier, is reserved for the 2016 First Place Tournament Chest, which was unparalleled in value, offering up to 15,000 cards and 105,000 gold. This chest remains the best Clash Royale has ever seen.
Conclusion
In Clash Royale, chests are an essential part of a player’s progression, directly influencing their ability to upgrade cards, unlock new units, and advance through the game’s various arenas. Chests can be earned by winning battles, completing challenges, and earning crowns, or they can be purchased through in-game purchases. They are the primary method for acquiring the valuable resources needed to improve a player’s collection and deck strength.
Each chest offers different types and quantities of rewards, including unit cards, gold, and gems. The contents of a chest are determined by both the type of chest and the player’s current arena level, with higher-tier arenas offering better rewards, such as a higher probability of receiving rarer and more powerful cards like Epics and Legendaries.
The game utilizes two distinct chest cycle systems to govern the flow of rewards: the 240 chest cycle and the 500 chest cycle. The 240 chest cycle dictates the order in which most chests are unlocked, ensuring a set progression of chest types based on the player’s ongoing gameplay. Within this cycle, players are guaranteed specific chests, such as Silver, Gold, Magical, and Giant chests, at predetermined points.
However, the chest cycle isn’t completely random; certain chest types may be replaced or removed entirely once a player reaches a particular King Level, offering more relevant chests suited to higher-level progression. On the other hand, the 500 chest cycle governs the appearance of special chests, such as Epic, Legendary, and Super Magical chests. These chests are rarer and appear at specific intervals within the 500-chest cycle, adding an element of excitement and anticipation as players move through the cycle.
Strategically managing chest unlocks is an essential component of Clash Royale gameplay. Prioritizing the unlocking of higher-tier chests can significantly improve a player’s progression. For instance, saving up for and unlocking Super Magical Chests or Legendary Chests can provide a large boost to one’s deck, granting access to powerful cards and rare resources. It’s also important for players to use resources such as gems and chest keys wisely.
Gems can be used to speed up chest unlock times, while chest keys can be used to unlock certain chests immediately, saving time and ensuring progress. Additionally, players need to ensure that their chest slots are consistently free, as having a full chest inventory will prevent them from earning new chests until one is unlocked. Overall, managing chest cycles and making strategic decisions about unlocking, prioritizing, and using resources are key elements to maximize rewards, accelerate progression, and enhance the overall Clash Royale experience.
To help guide players in chest management, here’s a tier list that ranks chests by their usefulness and rewards:
S-Tier: Legendary King’s Chest, Royal Wild Chest, Grand Challenge Chest, Lightning Super Magical Chest
A-Tier: Legendary Chest, Super Magical Chest, Tournament Chest, Mega Lightning Chest
B-Tier: Magical Chest, Fortune Chest, Giant Chest
C-Tier: Epic Chest, Clan Chest, Lightning Chest, Crown Chest, Classic Challenge Chest, Gold Crates, Clan War Chests
D-Tier: Silver Chest, Wooden Chest, Gold Chest
SS-Tier: 2016 First Place Tournament Chest
While chest availability and rankings may shift with future updates, understanding this tier system can help players prioritize chests to ensure the most effective progression in Clash Royale.